Dude Smells Like a Lady—And Vice Versa

I'm pretty equal-opportunity when it comes to fragrances: high, low, trendy, timeless. And I've never been all that concerned with whether something is "feminine" or "masculine." To me, if it smells good and smells good on me, I'll give it a shot. And over the years I've come to love many scents that are marketed for men, and I regularly incorporate men's colognes into my fragrance rotation.

This story in The New York Times, which is about the resurgence of "manly" men's fragrances from the '60s, was interesting for a number of reasons, but this tiny detail, which doesn't have all that much to do with the actual story, grabbed my attention: One of the people interviewed, Le Labo cofounder Eddie Roschi, copped to wearing Chanel No. 5. Roschi, in case you were didn't catch on, is a man. And one who occasionally wears women's perfume is a man after my own heart!

Now, I can't say for sure what other women's scents work well on men without doing some additional research. But in the spirit of Mr. Roschi, here's a shortlist of men's fragrances that I think are perfect for women:

Chanel Allure Homme Sport: This is a zingy, lemony, musky affair. It smells a bit like lemon meringue pie and bourbon, which, in my estimation, is a winning combination. The unexpected sweetness might be what appeals to the girly in me.

Eau de Lacoste L.12.12. Pure White: Laundry. That's the first thing that comes to mind for me with this one, which is weird because it's kind of herbal and woody. Maybe it's laundry dried outside? But there's also some tuberose in there, hence, it's somewhat feminine.

Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Mandorlo di Sicilia (pictured above): It's almond, it's bergamot, it's violet, which is popular with us ladies, so I hear. But honestly? This reminds me so much of root beer. Delicious, artisanal root beer. That sugary note explains it all.